Sports report

Thursday

Jan 31, 2013 at 12:01 AMJan 31, 2013 at 9:44 AM

Dr. Phil McGraw said Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, who masterminded the dead girlfriend hoax involving Manti Te'o, told him the Notre Dame linebacker was not involved in the scheme and that he ended up falling "deeply, romantically" in love with Te'o.

Football

Man who pulled hoax on Te’o fell in love with him

Dr. Phil McGraw said Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, who masterminded the dead girlfriend hoax involving Manti Te’o, told him the Notre Dame linebacker was not involved in the scheme and that he ended up falling “deeply, romantically” in love with Te’o.

McGraw spoke on the Today show yesterday, previewing an interview he did with Tuiasosopo, a 22-year-old California man who created the fictional woman Te’o knew as Lennay Kekua. Tuiasosopo’s interview with McGraw will air in two parts on the Dr. Phil Show starting today.

Tuiasosopo, who said the voice of Kekua was his, wanted to end the relationship between Kekua and Te’o before he had to fake Kekua’s death.

Te’o’s publicist declined comment on behalf of Te’o and his family.

McGraw said “absolutely, unequivocally” Te’o had no role in creating the hoax.

McGraw said he spent hours with Tuiasosopo and his parents, saying he had a number of life experiences that “damaged this young man in some very serious ways.”

McGraw said Tuiasosopo had feelings for Te’o.

“Here we have a young man that fell deeply, romantically in love,” McGraw said.

McGraw said he asked Tuiasosopo if he is gay.

“He said, ‘Well, when you put it that way, yes.’ Then he caught himself and said, ‘I am confused,’?” McGraw said.

Te’o also was asked in an interview last week with Katie Couric if he is gay. Te’o said “no” with a laugh. “Far from it. Far from that,” he said.

High schools

Hartley hands Bloom-Carroll rare regular-season loss

Jacob Matuska scored 20 points, and host Hartley beat Bloom-Carroll 75-70 in overtime to hand the Bulldogs their first regular-season loss since 2011.

A former NHL player apologized in a Las Vegas courtroom before he was handcuffed and taken to prison for four to 15 years for sexually assaulting a girl over a four-year period.

Relatives of the girl sobbed as Michael McBain apologized to Clark County District Court Judge David Barker and said he was ready to accept any sentence the judge imposed.

The judge rejected a two- to eight-year sentence recommended by state officials.

McBain, 36, was arrested July?5 on felony sex assault and lewdness with a minor charges that could have gotten him life in prison. He pleaded guilty in September to reduced felony charges of attempted sexual assault with a minor under 14 and attempted lewdness with a minor under 14.

McBain was drafted in 1995 by Tampa Bay and played for the Lightning from 1997 to 1999.

• Seattle Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill was arrested after police in Issaquah, Wash., said he assaulted his girlfriend and kept her in his home against her will.

It’s at least the fourth time Hill, 30, has been arrested and the second time he’s been accused of domestic violence.

Police said they responded to Hill’s home around 4 p.m. Tuesday. A 26-year-old said she had been assaulted several times and was kept in Hill’s home against her will. The women told police that Hill blocked the doorway and took her cellphone. She was able to escape the home when Hill used the bathroom, police said. She was treated at a hospital and released.

Hill played last season on a one-year contract with the Seahawks and is a free agent.

• A federal judge in New Orleans dismissed a class-action lawsuit that a Saints season-ticket holder filed against NFL commissioner Roger Goodell over the league’s bounty investigation.

U.S. District Judge Helen “ Ginger” Berrigan rejected the notion that Saints’ ticket holders are the only ones who experienced “mental suffering” from the team’s disappointing season. Saints ticket holder David James Mancina sued the NFL and Goodell in October, seeking $5?million in damages.

Elsewhere

Former Clipper LaRoche signs deal with Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays agreed to terms with infielder Andy LaRoche on a minor-league deal that includes an invitation to spring training.

LaRoche split 96 games between the Clippers and Pawtucket Red Sox last season, batting .251 with 12?home runs and 41 RBI.

• Sloane Stephens will lead the U.S. Fed Cup team that is without the Williams sisters for the World Group first-round match against Italy on Feb.?9-10 in Rimini, Italy.